A Very Eventful Day

Chapter Twenty Five

Part Three: The Day Darkens...

10:03am: Outside Hogwarts Gates, Harry and Co:

-

The orb began to spin madly.

-

Just above the palm of Harry's hand, the globe turned faster and faster, becoming a blur as it spun; silver and black merged into a resplendent grey, the lightning forks flickered erratically; slowly, the Omni's eye closed, and, through the swirling mist, a snapshot began to emerge.

Eyes glued to the stilling orb, Harry watched on in surprise as an image of Emily and Draco flickered before him. They're in the woods somewhere, he noted, as he took in the tall trees stood behind them within the glass. Yes, they're still in the woods and they both look pretty tense. Harry leaned down to study them closer.

As if he were willing it, their faces became clearer, Emily (he could see) was fretfully gnawing down on her bottom lip. The spindly trees in the background began to fade; their faces became larger, into focus; Harry could see the nervous tic twitching away along Draco's jaw. This is just like one of those old back and white films aunt Petunia used to watch, Harry thought to himself, feeling astonished. This is just amazing! The vibrating orb suddenly whizzed away.

"What?" Harry exclaimed loudly, as it sped away and headed to the trees. "What on Earth?"

"It's showing us the way, Harry," Luna murmured at his shoulder. "It wants us to follow."

Harry watched the orb as it hovered by the trees. "They were in the woods, I saw them. They looked upset, troubled..."

"Could you tell exactly where they were?"

Harry was instantly irritated. "For heavens sake," Harry snapped, and turned to face his friend. "It was a wood, Ron! All trees look the bloody same to me - what do you exp-"

"Well, what's the use of bloody that, then," Ron exploded, cutting him off. "If we can't tell exactly where they are - how are we supposed to catch up with them?"

"We follow the globe," all eyes turned to Luna, "we follow the globe and search it for clues..."

"How do you mean, Luna?" Harry asked her, politely.

"Well, we just have to study the image it shows ... Maybe they'll go to an inn, or maybe pass through somewhere we know? If it shows us somewhere we recognise, then we can just Apparate there."

"Oh," Harry nodded his head, "oh, yes, I see now. Thanks Luna." Harry turned to her, giving her a smile. "But, it does seem like it might be slow going, though." His smile turned into a frown.

"Too right, it does!" grumbled Ron from beside him, "we'll never bloody catch them up."

"Oh, we might get lucky, Ron," Luna smiled at no one in particular, "after all, our luck has to change sometime..."

"Yeah," piped up Neville, nodding eagerly. "And, at least, we know to go South. That's where it's pointing to..."

Harry glanced at the globe again. Yes, it had darted in a southerly direction, he had to admit. Neville was right - and it did make sense for them to head that way... Harry quickly came to a decision. "C'mon then," he said lightly, sliding comfortably back into his leadership position. "Let's get going! All we can do for now is follow."

Then, walking away, his hands casually in his jean pockets, Harry walked over to the still spinning globe. The others shared a quick glance and followed.

-

10.05am: In the woods with Emily and Draco. The memories came flooding back. Closing his eyes, letting reminiscence consume him, Draco continued. "When I..."

"I know you didn't kill him, Draco ... I know th-"

Draco's eyes snapped open, he cut her off with a glare.

"Sorry," she whispered softly, she should have known better than to interrupt him. Not now, not when she could see that he barely knew how to begin. Emily lowered her contrite eyes.

"As I was saying," Draco tinged his voice with a hint of superiority, "before you so rudely interrupted." He shot her another one of his looks. "When I failed to kill Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort was not, to say the least, very happy..."

He paused a while, to give her the chance to have her say, waiting for her next interruption. No words came from her, though, as she only stood there watching him with those big, brown, solemn eyes of hers. Taking a shuddering breath, he pressed on. "Well, as I was saying, Voldemort wasn't to happy with me, quite the opposite in fact. He thought me a failure, ineffectual - he saw my inability to kill Dumbledore as a weakness - he said he had no use for cowards like me amid his ranks. I thought I was for it then. I though I was going to die then and there. I thought-"

"It must have been awful, so terrifying..."

"To say the least, Emily," Draco eyed her intensely, "it was horrifying, worse than you, than anyone, could ever imagine..." He paused for a minute, thinking. "Well, with the exemption of Potter, I would defy anyone to be in that situation and not be afraid-"

"I would have been absolutely terrified," Emily admitted, stepping closer to take his hand. Her warm brown eyes searched his. "How did you do it then, Draco?" Her hand squeezed his tightly. "How did you escape his anger?"

"I didn't," Draco replied simply. "It wasn't part of his plans to kill me. You see, he didn't actually want me dead...back then. No, I was too important a tool to kill off at that moment in time: he knew how I cared for mother, how I would do anything for father - he-he gave me another task-"

Draco broke off, unable to continue for a while, unable to control his shaking voice. A bead of sweat trickled from his brow; he brushed it roughly away, struggling for composure. Then, regaining a little of it back, he went shakily on. "He told me that I deserved a few rounds of Crucio, that I was lucky to still be alive..." His eyes burned. Silently, he begged for her to understand. "And, his voice was so high-pitched and cold, Emily - and I was so scared - I would have done anything he asked me to ... D-Do you understand, Em - do you understand what I'm saying?"

Emily nodded empathetically. She could almost taste his terror; and she could see (in her minds eye) that dark room, full of ashes and dust, where Draco must have stood trembling. Her next words tumbled out haphazardly. "I-I understand, Draco ... ju-just tell me. I'll - I will - I can understand that, Draco..."

Draco stared at her expressionlessly, for a moment or two, before seemingly coming back to life. "C'mon, Em," he urged, suddenly grabbing her hand tightly. "Let's move on - let's find somewhere we can sit and talk."

Then, tripping and stumbling, Emily found herself being hauled after him. "Draco ... Stop ... Slow down," she panted, "you-you're hurting my hand."

Striding purposely onwards, Draco took no notice of her pleas, but the tight grip on her hand lessened as he pulled her along. He just wanted to find somewhere quickly; somewhere, where they could sit down comfortably, somewhere more secluded - where he could finish his gruesome tale. He spotted a small alcove of stunted trees ahead. It was the perfect place - he pulled hard on her hand again. "C'mon Em, there's a place just ahead," he pointed to the recess of trees ahead. "We'll go and sit there ... then, I, I-I'll tell you the rest, ok?"

Following his pointed finger with her eyes, Emily saw that it wasn't too far ahead. She nodded. "Ok, then - but Drac-"

His urgent hand cut her off, though. He wasn't listening to her; he pulled her swiftly along.

And, stumbling forward in a half-walk, half-run, Emily soon found herself amid the semi-circle of blackened, stumped and gnarled trees. She turned her exasperated eyes to Draco. "So what now, Dr-"

Ignoring her fractious tone, Draco threw himself to the dirty ground, leaning his back against a particularly deformed stump. "Now," he began, closing his eyes to sunlight, recollecting his memories. "Now, I'll tell you about my second task," he opened his eyes, staring keenly at Emily, "but, remember, Me - remember what you just said - this part isn't nice ... remember what you said about understanding..."

Emily's heart lurched.

-

10.43am. In the Ministry with Hermione. Seamus's eyes flickered over to Dean's. Eyebrows raised high, they held a humorous light. "So, who's she got in there," he conspired with a grin, "I wouldn't like to be them - did you see the look on her face?"

Dean shook his head and shrugged. "Don't know," he answered; then his face broke into a grin too. "But, you're right - I wouldn't fancy being in their shoes." He frowned a little. "I wonder what it's all about, though," he wondered aloud, looking at Seams through narrowed eyes. "It all seems so top secret-"

"Yeah," Seamus enthused back at him a little too loudly. Then, as several heads swivelled to stare, he quickly lowered his voice and ducked down his head. "It does, doesn't it? Something's going on all right ... I'd say, we might be in for some excitement soon... And I wonder where Neville's got to? Him just disappearing like that! Something's definitely going on..."

*

Hermione tore her eyes away from the chattering boys sat outside her office window. She could just imagine what her former fellow classmates were saying; they were obviously gossiping about her, probably talking about the new air of expectancy that had taken over the department as she had flooed in ten minutes earlier. They probably had something to say about Neville's disappearance too, if she knew them like she thought she did. Hermione sighed softly and stifled a yawn.

She felt so tired, so weary. Things had become so hectic, much too quickly, there was just too much to do ... to arrange. How on earth was she going to get everything done on time? She sighed again. This wasn't going to get her anywhere at all, though, she decided. She must stop thinking and worrying about it ... fretting over the situation at hand would be of no help to no one. Instead, she must pull herself together, and start putting the plans in motion. Letting the blind drop at the window, she turned to face the person who was currently waiting for her to speak again.

"How long will you need, Tonks?"

Tonks' normally friendly eyes were screwed up in concentration. "Dunno, Hermione," Tonks scratched the top of her head absentmindedly, "one day, perhaps? Two at the most, it all depends on... Well, I really can't be more precise than that-"

"Is it - will it? Will be particularly hard to find?"

"It's a very rare poison, Hermione. Exactly how soon does Dumbledore need it?"

"As soon as possible," Hermione sighed. "By yesterday would be best!" Smiling ruefully at her work colleague and friend, Hermione shrugged her shoulders at the hopelessness of it all; it just all felt so implausible, impossible to achieve.

Pushing herself off the edge of Hermione's desk, where she had plonked her bum when she first entered, Tonks made her way over to the fireplace and scooped up a handful of floo-powder from the large pouch that hung by the mantelpiece. "Don't worry, Hermione," she said, looking over to meet Hermione's eyes. "I'll get onto it straight away ... my other assignment can be put on hold. I," her forehead furrowed in concentration again, "well, I'll be in touch soon. Just owl me with anything new, any extra info you think I'll need. I'll be off now, Hermione - just keep in touch, eh. Let me be in the know."

From the other side of her office, Hermione nodded.

"See ya later, Moine," Tonks tipped her a familiar a wink and turned back to the fire. "Remember I'll be in touch soon..." She threw the floo into the dancing, green flames and stepped in. "Knockturn Alley!"

Hermione stood watching the flames return to their normal burnt orange hue, watching the empty grate from which Tonks had just departed. She stood, stock still, with a vacant expression on her face. Then, with a little shake of the head, she re-gathered her thoughts, approached her desk and, riffling through the clutter, began to search for the papers she needed. She sighed yet again. It was definitely going to be a long day!

-

Following the Omni Globe: Harry and Co: 11.45: Harry stepped forward to the globe, and put it in his pocket. The image hadn't changed, though, so he didn't bother with much of a look: it still showed the same old picture of Emily and Draco, sat amid the trees, with taut looks on their faces. Draco was still talking, though, Harry noted. And Emily's expression became bleaker and bleaker with each new furtive peek. One thing had changed, though ... a while back they'd changed their location. They now sat amongst a ring of stunted, blackened tree stumps and Harry was certain he'd recognise the place, if he ever happened to stumble across it.

"Any change, Harry?"

"Nope, still the same, Luna." Harry didn't bother looking over his shoulder as he answered. "They're still in the same place, but I think I'd recognise it, if I we pass it, though." Hary risked a glance backwards, she was still in deep conversation with Ron. A strange feeling of bitterness passed through him. "What do you think, Ron?"

Ron's eyes rounded on his. "Er, what's that? Oh, I, um, yeah, that's good, I suppose. Let's hope they stay there all day, eh? We'll catch them up eventually, if they stay stationary." Ron flicked him a strained smile, before bending his head back down to Luna's again. They began whispering.

Humph! Harry thought, indignantly. Just why were they getting so cosy, huh? What on earth was Ron up to? He'd never been Luna's biggest fan ... so why was he smooching up to her now? Just what was he after, hmmn? Harry's suspicions went into overdrive.

He should have told his suspicions to Dumbledore, he supposed. But, with everything else going on, he'd just forgotten. Not that Dumbledore would have confirmed or disproved anything, though. Most probably, if he had told him, the older wizard would have just mumbled something about Harry following his instincts, or some sort of mumbo-jumbo. Harry huffed out an irritated sigh. If only he had something more than this indistinct feeling of something not being right, if only he had something more...solid! He had to think hard, he had to remember, to search his memory for the smallest clue...

Something was missing he could feel it. Something to do with Dumbledore's keen eyes, Dumbledore peering suspiciously over half-moon glasses... WAIT! Just wait a minute! Something was coming back to him: he could clearly see Dumbledore's office, something, or someone, not quite right...something of great importance... Clarity was just inches away...

"Where do you think Neville is?," Luna's voice floated out, dragging him away from burgeoning comprehension. "Do you think he's lost?"

NO! No, Luna, no ... not now ... not when he was this close! He could feel the memory slipping through his fingers ... he was so close ... if he concentrated, if no one else said a word, he could still reel it in ... he could almost touch it with his fingertips. Harry screwed up his eyes, tightly, and concentrated hard.

"Dunno, Luna..." Unaware of Harry's dilemma, Ron answered Luna loudly, looking around for Neville's bumbling form as he answered her. "I can't see him," he looked over his shoulder, searching the trees behind. "He's not back there... Do you think I should go and look for him, Harry?"

He'd lost it - he'd bloody well lost it! The memory slipped elusively away. He mustn't lose his temper, though. It wasn't Ron's fault ... he didn't know ... mustn't lose control. One ... Two ... Three ... Harry exploded! "You've got a bloody big mouth, Ron - did you know that?"

Ron's head snapped back round. "W-What do you mean?" his forehead scrunched into a frown. "What am I supposed to have done?"

"Sod it, Ron! I was so bloody close!"

"Close to what?" Face screwed up in confusion, Ron turned his questioning eyes to Luna. "What the bloody hell are you going on about, Harry?"

"Like I'd tell you!"

"What? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nevermind!" Harry knew that he'd gone to far. He'd given too much away.

"No - fuck nevermind! What did you mean by that - is there something you need to tell me, Harry?"

"No, just forget it!" Harry had himself under control again, he turned his back on Ron. "Just find something useful to do! Why don't you sod off and go and find Nev-"

Ron's face paled. "What the hell's got into you-"

Harry spun back round to him, eyes fuming. "I not stupid, you know, Ron!"

Ron glared at him, his cheeks flushed red. "You may not be stupid, Harry. But, you're not making any bloody sense-"

"Why don't you just piss off?"

Ron gawped at him in disbelief. What the hell was going on? His hands balled into fists of anger. Harry couldn't have guessed, could he? Maybe it was time to...

"Why are you still here, Ron?"

Ron snapped. Just who does he think he is? "Fuck off! You've no right to talk to me like-"

Harry gritted his teeth and forced his words out. "As head Auror, I'm telling you to go and find Longbottom..."

Ron opened his mouth to protest, but changed his mind almost instantly. Instead, he stared back blankly at Harry, and tried hard to scrutinise his closed expression. Harry wasn't about to give any secrets, anytime soon, though, Ron could see that straight away. It was pure determination he saw glinting in Harry's resolute green eyes. Ron changed tactics.

If Harry wanted to play it like that, then so be it. He had other things to worry about, more important things, and he just didn't need the hassle of this added (and unwanted) aggravation. He spun on his heels. He didn't have to put up with Harry's stupidity, he didn't have to put up with any of this rubbish at all! Sod it - if Harry wanted him gone, then he would bloody well go. He didn't need this shit, he was out of there! And, with fingers clenched into furious fists at his sides, Ron stalked off into the trees, fuming.

Luna peeled her eyes from Ron's retreating back and turned to Harry. "Harry," she asked him, looking vaguely troubled. "Are we going to wait for him to come back?"

Eyes still fixed on the back of his retreating friend, Harry could only shrug.

-

1.00pm: Amongst the Tree Stumps, Emily and Draco:

"Is that everything?" Staring down at her toes, Emily voiced her question apprehensively. All that she had heard, had left her reeling. "Is that all there is to tell, Draco?"

"Yes." He kept his answer sharp and short. His eyes still stung.

"T-Then," her voice trembled, she was only too aware of the implications of her next words. "I think I can understand ... I understand you, Draco..."

"How can you say that?" Draco hissed sharply, not believing what she was telling him. Hadn't she listened to a word he'd said? How could she understand all that he'd told her, how could she believed that she understood him? Uncontrollable anger rushed through him. "Have you not listened to a bloody word I've said, Carlisle?" he exploded.

Emily didn't bat an eyelash, she had expected this reaction. She reached out her hand and found his shaking fingers; her fingers entwined with his. "Draco," she whispered gently, lifting her eyes to search his troubled face. "Draco I," she faltered, as she dug deep for the right words. "I do understand, I listened to every, single horrific word. But, I can understand you, Draco," her voice raised in pitch, "I can understand why ... I know why you did what you did. It's not as though, well, it's not like you had much choice..."

Battling down revulsion, Draco spat his next words out. "What do you know about choice, Carlisle?"

"I may not have been through what you've been through, Draco," Emily shot back at once. "But, I understand... You were in a hard place, you had no choice - you were forced into your decisions! He held your love for your mum against you, he baited you. He promised you a golden egg. You wanted your father free at the time, how could you not do what you did? You had no other choice!"

"How can you say that?" Draco shot back. "How can you say it, when you know how I felt? I told you, I felt relieved, that I thought I would enjoy-"

"But you didn't, Draco - did you? When Bellatrix led you down there you were sick to you stomach, you hated it! You didn't have it in you..."

Beads of sweat broke out on his brow. "But, that's not the point, is it?" he barked out harshly. "The fact of the matter is, I did it. I wanted to do it. I mean, I'd have rather done that than be tortured myself. No matter what the outcome was later, at that time, that was my choice. It shows you what sort of person I really am..."

NO!" It came out as an explosion. "No, it doesn't," she yelled at the top of her voice. "It doesn't show that at all! It shows who you were then, not who you are now. What happened back then has changed you, as your later choices show! You can't judge yourself on what happened then Draco - life just doesn't work that way! Yes, you were a nasty bully! Yes, you naturally wanted to save your own skin - I mean - who wouldn't? But, you obviously regret past deci-"

"Potter wouldn't have!"

"POTTER, Harry?" She stared at him in disbelieve. "How can you compare the two of you? Your both so totally different ... your situations were just so totally different! Harry had the order around him, he had the help of his friends - he was surrounded by people he could trust! You , on the other hand, had no such thing..."

"He still wouldn't have done it!" Draco blurted out, sounding very much like a sulky child. "He would have died before letting that happ-"

"Then, Thank Merlin, it didn't happen to him!" Emily cut him off, "because if that'd happened, we'd all be ruled by Voldemort now! And I'd probably be de-"

"No, Harry wouldn't have died," Draco spat out with venom. "He'd have conjured up some spectacular magic of some sort, nothing would have happened to him..."

Why wouldn't he listen to her? How ever, would she get through to him? Emily clutched her head in frustration. "Draco," she finally said carefully, not wanting to inflame him. "Harry is special - it was Voldemort who made him special, in fact. He had special magic in him, still does. When his mum died for him, she gave him this magic. Dumbledore understood and helped him to understand this magic. Harry holds within him something most others do not..."

She broke off to see if he was listening and when she saw that he was, she carried on. "But, Draco - even with all his special abilities - it still doesn't mean that he would have survived. You just can't say what he would have or wouldn't have done ... it just doesn't work that way. He might have died, and Voldemort might have won; he might have conjured up some wondrous magic, but he also might have done exactly what you did, giving him the chance to save himself..."

Trailing off, she eyed Draco intently. Had anything she'd just said gotten through to him? Had he took in a single word she'd said? She watched him quietly as he contemplated over her words. Then he started to speak.

"Maybe," he whispered, "maybe you're right... But, it doesn't change some things..."

"What things, Draco?"

"On, nothing..."

"Just tell me. Draco," Emily urged, "you promised you'd tell me everything."

"I have..."

He was lying, she could tell. He was still keeping secrets from her. Why else wouldn't he believe her when she told him she understood him? Emily tried again. "Is it something to do with Snape, or your mother?"

"No - I mean..." Draco sighed heavily, dragging his hands through his hair. He'd had enough of this interrogation, he could feel it draining him. "It's nothing, Em ... Just let it be-"

Emily changed tactics. "Why didn't you trust him, Draco? Especially after your mother told you that he could be trusted-"

"I've already told you that," Draco snapped back, exhausted. "I believed my aunt. She believed him to be too dangerous , and I trusted her judgement. I didn't have anyone to talk to ... only father, and he was becoming more deranged by the minute. By the end of it, he actually made aunt Bella look sane! Father didn't trust Severus either, he believed him Voldemort's most loyal supporter, and he didn't want him interfering with his nefarious schemes... But, anyway, none of that matters now - it couldn't have made any difference - mother never had the chance to tell me until after Pansy..."

"Pansy?" Emily asked, with her brow furrowed. This was new! He hadn't spoken of Pansy before. How was that little cow involved? She was intrigued. She just had to ask. "What happened to Pansy, Draco?"

Draco paled. "Nothing happened, just shut up about her!"

Emily suddenly remembered that Pansy was dead. And it didn't take her long to put two and two together. Pansy was dead. Pansy, even though Emily hated her, had been Draco's friend. Had Draco seen her die? Merlin, no! Had she put her foot in it again?Emily inched forward to comfort him. "I'm so sorry, Draco," she whispered, while touching his cheek. "I know she was a friend. W-Was it the same as Crabbe's, did it happen on a raid? D-Did you see it, Dra-"

Draco jerked his head back as if she had burnt him. "Shut up! Just stop harping on about it! I don't want to-"

Her eyes widened, she seemed to have opened a real can of worms here. Emily had never seen him so upset. Merlin, how he was trembling! Inching forward again, she tried her best to make it better. "I'm sorry, Draco - I didn't mean to bring up hurtful memories. It must have been horrible time, I mean, the raids and everything. No one should witness their friends dying ... I mean, it must have been bad enough just coping with the fear and trying to stay alive..."

Her words lingered heavy on the air. Beside her, Draco sat shaking uncontrollably. She had touched something taboo. Feeling afraid herself, she lightly touched his arm. "Draco?" she asked apprehensively, "d-did you..."

"Did I what, Emily?" he barked back, his eyes shining with a strange gleam. "What are you asking, what is it you think I've done?"

Emily swallowed hard. There was no going back now. "D-Did you k-kill P-Pansy?"

His face blanched of all colour, his eyes stared off into the distance. His words seemed to be coming from faraway. "I-Its more complicated than that."

Emily shivered, although she wasn't cold. "D- Did Voldemort make you?"

Draco buried his head in his hands, dropping it to his knees. His voice came out muffled; Emily could barely decipher it. "He'd found out the Parkinson's were switching alliances, you see..."

Emily said nothing. Too astounded for words, she just waited for the rest to spill out of him. She didn't have to wait long. Once he had begun, or so it seemed to her, the words just tumbled out, one after another, as if they hungered for sweet release.

"He wanted to punish the Parkinson's," Draco, poured out as he shivered, "and he knew that I was her friend at school ... Plus, word had got to him about father's questionable loyalties, and I suppose he wanted to make an example of me. To make things worse, Nott had seen me at the last raid; he had noticed how I had hung back, how I'd avoided most of the action. He told Voldemort, of course ... so I knew that when he asked for me, there was going to be punishment involved. Wrongly, though, I presumed that it would be several rounds of Crucio, or even Avada Kedavra ... things were getting dangerous, I knew that I'd become nothing but a thorn in his side lately, he really had no use for me at all in those last few weeks."

"I wasn't prepared for what he asked, though," here Draco paused, nervously licking his lips, "when he first asked me, I couldn't quite comprehend it - it all seemed too innocent, too simple. As the son of one of his most loyal of Death Eaters, he said that he regretted overlooking me, that he was sure I was as worthy to his cause as my father. I wasn't daft enough to believe him, though. I knew it for what it was, veiled threats and hypocrisy."

"Then he asked me if there were any friends I'd like to see again, if there was anybodyspecial. Of course, though, not knowing exactly what he up to, I just stood there and stammered like some damnable Hufflepuff! Then he mentioned Pansy, said that he'd heard (along with the rest of the world) that we were together at school, that he understood that we found much pleasure in each other. He told me of how he understood the certain urges of one of my age, that he could be (in certain circumstances) just as kind, as he was harsh, ha! Then, he suggested that I should write to Pansy with an invite..."

Draco paused, licking his lips nervously. He swallowed. "So I wrote Pansy a letter...and that's it, more or less..." Looking up from the ground, he eyed Emily intently, almost defiantly.

Emily stared back at him wide-eyed, unbelieving. "What do you mean, Draco? You can't end it like that, you just can't! Heavens, Draco, what did you do next? What did he make you do next? Did he ask you to kill her, or watch, or..."

"No, Emily," Draco sighed, "weren't you listening? I told you, I wrote the letter, her death warrant really, and there really is nothing more to it..."

"But," Emily persisted, she would not accept this for an explanation. "But, what happened next, Draco? How did you get from there - to being under the protection of the order? Something more must have happened ... tell me! Tell me what happened next, I need to understand..."

Draco closed his eyes, tight, in exasperation. "What more is there to tell, Emily? You know the rest-"

"No I don't, Draco. Not really..."

He opened his eyes and looked at her. Defeat dulled his eyes. "Alright then, Emily ... If you insist, I'll give you the rest of it in a nutshell." He lowered his eyes to the ground again, his free hand raked through the dry, brittle leaves scattered around them. He spoke again, his voice was a pale monotone. "As I told you before, Em - soon after he left me, I sat down to write the invite ... by this time, I knew exactly what I was writing. I knew that I was, more or less, writing her death warrant - nevertheless, I sat down and wrote it anyway."

"I did think of warning her, yes. But, I knew that it would be useless, I knew the letter would be checked before it was sent. By the time I finished writing that letter, I knew I had just sent my only friend to an early grave..."

"Draco, don't," Emily interrupted, "don't do this to yourself..."

Ignoring her interruption, Draco ploughed on. "...Soon after that, I went to my mother ... not much was said, she didn't need words to understand me. She gave me what little comfort she could afford to give; she pressed me to put my trust in Snipe..." A ghost of a smirk flickered on his lips. "This time, I listened to her, like a good boy, I finally put my faith in him, he was my only hope..."

Draco wiped a trembling hand across his perspiring brow. "I went to him soon after. Mother warned me of Voldemort's intentions for me and kissed me lightly on the cheek, before sending me off to him ... that was the last I ever saw of mother."

"Later that night, I found him. It was a brief encounter, we had not much to say to each other, we did not have enough time. Thankfully, this meant that there was not enough time for many reproofs; he called me a damnable fool of a boy, asked why I hadn't come to him sooner, and pressed a portkey to Dumbledore in my hands. Then, putting my last vestiges of trust in him, I took the portkey from it's coverings, and took it in my hand: the world blurred, I felt that old familiar pulling in my stomach, and found myself falling..."

Emily couldn't help it, she just had to blurt it out. "Oh, but, Draco," she gasped, "how did you it would take you to Dumbledore? How could you put your trust in him so quickly?"

"I didn't," Draco lifted his eyes from the ground to look at her sombrely. "I didn't really trust him at all! But, at that moment in time, I couldn't have cared less if it had took me to Voldemort and his awaiting army..."

"Oh, Draco..." She squeezed his clammy hand in hers. "It must have, I mean-"

Draco shook his head sharply at her, but his hand remained clasped in hers. Tired and as upset as he was, he still wanted her touch - but her pity he could live without. "Don't Emily - I don't need your kindness, just let me finish the tale."

Under his baleful eyes, Emily stopped immediately. She wanted to hear every last detail.

"Well, he began, "you, more or less, know the rest, Em. I told Dumbledore everything, everything I'd ever done, everything I knew about Voldemort, everything I knew about my father. Moreover, thankfully, Dumbldedore believed me; he offered me protection, and I anxiously took it. I agreed readily to his terms, to be jailed in Azkaban, to everything. The war ended soon after, I offered myself as scapegoat, lived in Azkaban for a year, was freed by interfering Potter, then I came to spend the next year of my life with you..." Draco took a much needed breath. "And that, Emily, is absolutely everything there is to know about me."

"Draco, I," Emily brushed up close to him, her hand cupped his cheek. "I understand. Thank you for tell-"

He jerked his head away, livid eyes met hers. "No, you still don't understand, Emily..."

"But, I do, Draco - I really do-"

"No, you don't, Carlisle! If you did , you wouldn't want to touch me..."

Emily felt distraught. "But, I want to touch you - Draco, it wasn't your fault, you had no choice..."

"I killed my only friend - I killed her, Emily! I put myself first, I saved my own-"

"No, Draco - you had no other options. If you had refused, he would have threatened you mother, or your father..."

"Why do you refuse to understand, Emily?" Yanking his hand from hers, he massaged his pounding head. "I had other options, I just chose not to pick them. I was afraid, I chose myself, my own needs, over others..."

"What other options, Draco?" Touching his arm lightly, Emily tried to get a glimpse of his eyes. "I mean, who could honestly choose between their mother and a friend-"

Cradling his head in his hands, he answered her with taut words. "I could have approached Snape-"

"You didn't trust him, though!" Emily exploded.

Draco's shoulders stiffened. "Nevertheless, Emily - I could have gone to him. I could have took the chance. But, I was too scared, too afraid of what would happen if I was wrong. I was too scared to take the risk, I let a friend die before I went to him..."

"But, it wasn't just you that you had to think about, he had your family too!"

Draco pressed on as if she had said nothing. "...or, I could have gone to the order, asked for protection, risked the possibility of Azkaban. The order may have been able to help..."

"But, you did do that, Draco!"

"Only after I let a friend die! O-Only after I k-killed her..." His voice became strangled, his shoulders began to hitch. "I l-let her d-die, Emily."

"No," Emily's tone was determined; she caught his distraught face in her hands, forcing his eyes up to look at her. "It's not that simple, it's never as cut and dried as that, Draco! Things were different then, you were different then, not forgetting you were alone and friendless. You say you were afraid for yourself, that's understandable, Draco. But, don't forget, there was always your fear for your mother's safety to contend with too."

"And you've changed since then, Draco - everything that happened to you back then has had an impact on who you are now. You're a different person! Your past has made you question yourself, your motives. Voldemort tried to make you a puppet, but he failed. No matter what he did, you never became like him - you never embraced his ideals. When you found out what he really stood for, you were running scared. You turned your back on him, on what you previously believed. Draco, you can't stay hiding behind your past forever..."

At these words, Draco seemed to sag. His head dropped to her shoulder. "But, I'm a bad person, Em," he choked out, his voice but a muffled sob. "I must be, to do what I've done..."

Emily'd hands raked through his hair, she could feel a hot tear trickle down her neck. "Don't say that," she whispered hotly, dropping her lips upon his silky, blond hair. "You're not a bad person, Draco. A misguided one, yes. Bad, a truly bad person - never... You may have done less than perfect deeds, I grant you that. You were a bully at school, and you've obviously made a few bad choices along your way. Your arrogant, still quite self-absorbed, your sarcastic and can be a bloody royal pain in the behind! But, you're not a bad person, Draco .. do you really think you'd feel quite as distraught as you do now, if you were?"

"But, how can you trust me, Emily," his hot breath ghosted over her neck, "after what I've done? How can you be so certain?" He lifted he tousled head and looked deep into her eyes. "How can you be certain, if it came to it - how can you be so sure that I wouldn't do the same thing to you? After all that I've told you, how can you still believe in me?"

Dropping her hands from his head, she gently cupped his face. "I just do, Draco ... I just do..."

"But?"

"I trust you, Draco," she leaned her forehead on his, "you wouldn't hurt me, or let anyone harm me - I just know it. When Zabini showed up, you pushed me out of the way - you tried to protect me. The past doesn't matter to me, I have you here in the here and now. And the Draco that I have with me now... well ... I believe in him..."

"How can you believe in me," he asked her wearily, trailing his fingers against her cheek, "when I can hardly believe in myself? How can you do that, Em?"

"I just do, Draco," she whispered back, pressing her lips gently against his. "I just do ... I have enough belief in me for the both of us..."

He captured her lips, stealing a taste of the sweetest honey. "I don't deserve this, Emily," he whispered between nectar kisses, while slowly stroking her hair, "I don't deserve yo-"

"Shush," she softly admonished, "Don't say that..." Releasing his face, she let her fingers trail unhurriedly down his chest. "Maybe it's our time for some happiness ... maybe it's time to enjoy being us..."

Catching his breath, Draco hesitated; his heart pounded in his chest. "Are you certain you want to do this, Emily?" he questioned hesitantly, capturing her roaming hands in his. "Is this really what you want?"

Slipping her hands from under his, she reached for his cloak and unclasped it; it slipped slowly from his shoulders, revealing the crumpled white shirt underneath; her fingers fumbled eagerly at the top button. Then she looked up into his darkening grey eyes. "Yes," she answered, her voice dangerously low and husky, "I'm certain, Draco," her eyes dropped to his lips, "very, very certain. I want you - I'm ready for my desert now..."

Lifting her eyes to his again, she smirked seductively at him, watching as his grey eyes darkened to charcoal. The poor little lamb, she thought rather wickedly to herself, he hasn't got a clue what he's in for? Then she pounced. Crashing her lips ardently down on his, she pushed him forcefully to the ground.

-

1:45pm An Audience with Lucius. The boy's hesitant steps echoed on the stone floor behind him; slowly they approached, stopping within safe distance of his chair. Lucius remained still, and waited for the boy to speak.

There was but a pause. The boy kept his voice low and insignificant. "My Lord," he addressed him, with an appropriate bow. "My Lord, I bring news..."

Feeling no design still to turn, Lucius kept his back turned on him. "News," he drawled, enjoying stretching the moment. "What news is this? I received your letter, boy ... I hope, for your own sake, have much to tell me..."

The boy answered eagerly. "Much news, My Lord," he breathed heavily with excitement, "I bring you much news - I also bring with me a gift!"

"A gift?" Lucius's raised one fine eyebrow, and at last he turned to face the boy. "A gift you say? Is this the gift that you wrote of?"

The boy nodded keenly. "Yes, My Lord," he fumbled clumsily in one of the pockets of his robe. "The very same ... I think you'll be very pleased with it."

Lucius watched him with a sceptical brow, watched him as he fumbled with his robes. Whatever his give, he thought dismissively to himself, he doubted its ability to please him. The boy pulled a glass globe out of his pocket, suddenly, Lucius's eyes gleaned with interest. He leaned forward. "Is that what I think it is, boy?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically and stepped forward, holding the fragile looking orb carefully in both hands. "It's an Omni Glass, My Lord! I managed to take it, I was very clever, I snatched it from under his nose. I..."

"Enough!" Lucius held up his hand, and the boy instantly ceased to speak. "Bring it to me boy, and please desist with your boasting." The boy reached Lucius, placing it in his hands. "Ah, indeed, it is an Omni Globe - they are extremely rare - pray tell me, from whom did you obtain it?"

The boy let forth a nervous chuckle. "It's Dumbledore's, My Lord. But, I managed to nab it from Harry Potter!"

"Harry Potter?" Lucius raised a quizzical eyebrow, "please, do tell more..."

"I managed to switch it, My Lord," the boy rushed out, feeling very pleased to be allowed to show his cleverness. "I charmed a stone, it looks exactly the same as the glass, an exact replica! I charmed it so it looks like Emily and Draco haven't moved, the fools probably think they're still sat in the same spot - I've been very clever, My Lord!"

"Hmmn," replied Lucius, as he had already lost interest in the boy, it was the rare orb held in his hands that captured his imagination now. He pulled forth his wand, waving it slowly above the globe; after muttering a strange incantation, the orb began to spin, an image began to merge, his erstwhile son appeared before his very eyes. Lucius lips curled into a unpleasant smirk.

The boy stepped forward to peer over his shoulder, Lucius turned on him swiftly. "Have you no manners, did no one teach you it'd not polite to pry," he snarled, putting the globe behind him. "Now finish off your news, boy... Tell me this, are you still with the party? Is Draco still accompanied by Potter?"

Taking a step backwards, the boy rushed out his answer. "I am still with the party - there is no sign of any suspicion," he paused for breath, "Draco and Emily have parted with Harry, but I have already plans in place. I plan now to lead Harry in the wrong direction, leaving Draco and Emily vulnerable. I apologise for not informing you of my decision sooner, but I thought it for the best to change the plans, my lord-"

Lucius eyes seemed to look through him. "Yes," he drawled thoughtfully, "Now I have the globe, I will have them in my hands very soon..." He came out of his deep thoughts and his cold eyes pierced through the boy. "You have done well, carry on with your current plan of action, delay Potter and lead him astray; I do not need to deal with him interfering with my plans," his concentration seemed to flicker for a moment, his eyes darted back to the globe.

The boy took advantage of his distraction. "I was wondering..."

Lucius's eyes snapped back to his. "You will get your reward, insolent boy! If this proves not to be a ruse, I will, indeed, reward you well. Now go, whelp! Depart! Go and rejoin the party-"

The boy drew on his hidden courage. "Can I have the girl, Emily-"

"Begone," Lucius voice sliced through the air like ice. "Go now, I will not discuss rewards with you now. If you prove true, arrangements can be arranged, but now enough of this insolence, get out of my sight! I told you to go, why are you still here, boy?"

The boy didn't need to be told no more, turning quickly, he soon Apparated out of sight. Luicius paid no heed, though, for he had heard familiar footsteps passing close by. He knew that footfall, Severus was close, an ugly smile crawled on his lips. He called out to his former friend. "Severus," he called smoothly, "do come here, Severus! I have some pleasing news for you."

-

2:15am: Waiting with Harry and Luna.

"I think we should move on now, Luna," looking back over his shoulder at her, Harry motioned to the sky. "It's getting dark early again, and I don't like it ... I think we'd better move..."

"I think you're right, Harry," Luna agreed, turning one last time to scan the trees. "I don't really like leaving them behind, but I'm sure they'll find us somehow. We really do need to get going soon."

Then she spotted a figure out the corner of her eye; another joined the solitary figure, her hand floated down to her wand, a glimpse of flaming hair. It was Ron, joined by Neville. They were her, they had made it back. "There here now, Harry," she called, as she waved to the approaching boys. "It's alright now, we can all leave together."

Turning at the sound of her voice, Harry spotted the errant pair. He frowned. Approaching quickly, Ron wore a frown like a thunderstorm; two paces behind him came Neville, looking flushed and very out of breath. Ron stalked right up to Harry.

"Found about five miles back, he said he'd got lost. Nothing much else to report on it, Harry!"

Harry winced at Ron's sarcastic tone. "There's no need to be like that, Ron! I only asked you to find-"

"No, you didn't, Harry," Ron fumed back, "you ordered me to do it! You were taking the piss-"

"Yeah, I needed the loo," chimed in Neville, hoping his light tone would diffuse the situation. "Went to have a, well you know, and then I got lost!"

"What?" Ron and Harry exclaimed together, both wearing the same confused look on their faces.

"Just telling you how I got lost," Neville explained with an embarrassed shrug

"Oh - erm - right!"

"I didn't really need to know that much, Nev," Harry grinned.

"You do need to use the toilet an awful lot," chimed in Luna, seemingly unaware of Neville's embarrassment. "That's the sixth time you've been today.

Neville shuffled his feet and Harry took pity. "Look let's get a move on, shall we," he glanced quickly around at everyone. "It's still getting dark eerily early, we still have Emily and the ferret to find. Why not just make a move?"

Harry saw nods all round, so he turned to Neville. "C'mon Neville, walk with me, we haven't had a proper chat for ages."

"What about the globe?"

Harry sighed at Ron's question, the picture in the globe still hadn't changed. "No difference there," Harry answered without turning, " they haven't changed location for ages. Still sat in the same old place, they must having a right humdinger of a talk..."

"Well, can't I have a look for myself?" Ron persisted.

"What for?" Harry snapped back, he could feel his heckles rising. "I last looked five minutes ago, I doubt that anything has changed!"

"Wouldn't hurt to look!"

"Why?"

"Because they might have moved , you prat!"

"Don't call me a prat, Ron - you're the one being a git-"

"Leave Harry alone, Ron," piped in Neville, "he knows what he's doing."

"Actually, I think Ron's right, Harry. There's no harm in looking, and it would only take a minute. You never know, they may have moved on."

Harry glared at Luna, since when did she stick up for Ron? The more sensible side of him answered his own question, though, telling him - maybe ever since he'd actually started talking sense. Conceding defeat, Harry took the orb out of his robes pocket; the others quickly gathered around him.

"See," Harry almost yelled with a self-satisfied smirk, "I told you - they haven't moved! They're there for the night!"

"Well they might have done!" A red-faced Ron yelled back.

"Yeah, but they didn't-"

"Yeah - well it didn't hurt to bloody check-"

"I think there's something wrong with this globe..."

Both yelling boys turned their heads; Neville sidled up beside Luna and peeked.

"What do you mean, Luna?" asked Harry, moving in to have a closer look. Ron, following his lead, peeked over her shoulder.

"Well, even though, everything looks fine on surface - if you look more closely at the shadows, you can tell that they're not quite right... "

"How do you mean?"

"Well, they don't fit - they should fall longer, or maybe shorter, I'm not quite sure which..."

Ron snorted loudly. Harry shot him a glare, before turning his attention back to Luna. "And you think it's a problem because..."

Luna turned dreamy eyes to his. "I think the Omni Glass could be faulty, Harry," she told him matter-of-factly. "I mean - it does seem a long time for them to have stayed in the same place..."

"But, how are we supposed to find out if it's faulty or not?" asked Neville, looking bemused. "Is there anyway of knowing?"

Luna nodded. "Yes, " she replied, looking very certain. "My father taught me an old charm..."

Then, taking her wand from the folds of her robe, Luna whispered a strange incantation and tapped the Omni Globe three times: the orb immediately stopped spinning, blurred, and dropped heavily into her outstretched hands.

Everyone crowded closer to see what was in her open palms; Neville gasped, Ron gawped and Harry groaned. The Omni Glass lay no longer in her hands, instead, in her hands, laid a large, granite stone.

-

3.45pm: An Audience with Lucius, Part II: Lucius swept his hand towards the object on the table: eyeing the three other occupants of the chamber very carefully, he took care in choosing his opening words. "Do you know what this is? " he asked them, finally. "Are you aware of what this object can do?"

One of the young men idly raised his hand.

"Then pray do tell me, Mr Zabini"

"It's an Omni Glass, Luc - My Lord!"

"Very good, Zabini, but do you know how it works?"

"It's an all-seeing eye, I don't know its magical structure, but I know it can find people, show you things..."

"Excellent! And could you take a guess as to whom I saw in this very useful globe earlier?"

A slight hesitation. "Was it Draco, My Lord?"

"Well done, Mr Zabini! Spot on again! I have one last question for you, though, Zabini. Can you guess what he was doing?"

Blaise shook his head.

"No," queried Lucius with one blond eyebrow raised mockingly. "Not at all? Not even a stab in the dark?"

Blaise shook his head again.

Lucius pounced. "So if I told you that I saw him rutting with his Mudblood whore not two hours hence from here, would you be at all surprised?"

Blaise could do nothing but stare.

"Do speak up, Mr Zabini - I'd love to hear your opinion. The last I heard from one of your little scouting trips, you told me that they didn't seem close..."

Blaise thought quick on his feet. "I'm sorry, Lu -My Lord! I did not get the impression that they were close, they fought awfully last time I saw them..."

Lucius's cold eyes studied him closely. "Nevertheless, Zabini, if I find you have been nothing but loyal to me, you will rue the day you were born..."

"I am truly loyal, My Lord!"

"Ah, we will see Mr Zabini, we will see... "

"Is that all, My Lord?" A slight bow of the head.

"Oh, no, not yet, I need one thing more of you..."

"I'm honoured, My Lord!"

"Yes, indeed, it is as it should be! I wish you to go forth now," he swept his hand towards the other two young men in the room; "Goyle and Nott shall accompany you. You will go forth this instant, and bring my son and his filthy, Mudblood whore back home to me..."

-

4:00pm: The Day Darkens: Emily and Draco:

"Emily?"

"Yes, Draco."

"I suppose we should be..."

"Oh, why must you always say that, Draco?" cutting him off, Emily snuggled closer to him.

"Because one of us has to, Em," Draco brushed his lips against the top of her head. "Look, it's dark now, and it's getting cold, we really should be moving on..."

Emily groaned from the confines of his chest. "But, where are we going to move on to?" she pouted, "I'm sick and tired of trees and woods!"

Draco chuckled contently as he stroked her hair gently. "Well, maybe, we could find an inn, just this once mind..."

Emily shot to her knees in an instant. Had she really heard him say that? Her eyes widened in disbelief! "Do you really mean it, Draco?"

Draco smirked. "Yes, Em - just this once, though. I think we could both do with a proper bath," he glanced down at his filthy attire in disgust, "a nice warm meal, and a cosy, warm bed for the night."

Emily closed her eyes, imagining the luxury of it all. To her ears, it sounded like heaven. "We could share a room," she sighed out loud, "and be warm and cosy together..."

"That's the general idea, Carlisle," Draco took in her dreamlike expression and smirked. "So what's your decision - are we going to stay here all night, or are we going to get a move on and find that cosy, little inn?"

Emily didn't need to be told twice, she was on her feet in an instant. "Cosy inn, here we come," she smiled happily to herself as she searched the shadowy ground for several scattered belongings. "You know, Draco - I can't decide what sounds best," she drew slightly away from him as she recognised her belt laying by a stump a little further to their left, "...a hot bath or sharing a cosy bed with you. Oh, I know," her eyes suddenly widened in delight, "we can share a hot, steamy bath to- mmmph!"

From out of nowhere, a pair of hands shot out, clamping tightly down over her mouth. And, as she staggered around blindly in the dark, trying to tear those thick hands from her mouth, she felt another pair of massive arms encircle her, pinning down her struggling arms to her side. Then the night was filled with the distinct pop of an Apparation. Eyes wide fear, Emily struggled against her unknown foe all the more.

Draco was on his feet in an instant; twirling, his wand was aimed at the heart of this unknown assailant in a trice.

"Drop your wand, Malfoy," lowering his hood, Blaise stepped forward, his wand also ready to do battle. "Drop the wand and no one needs to get hurt..."

"I should have known it was you, Zabini," Draco spat in disgust, not lowering his wand an iota. "Don't move an another inch - what does my father want with me this time?"

The sound of muffled struggles sounded out in the night that surrounded them. And, seeing Draco's eyes flicker with sudden concern, Blaise took advantage of the situation. "I'd drop the wand if I were you, Draco - you don't want to see your little Mudblood hurt, would you?"

Draco's lips curled into a snarl. "And what makes you think that I give a fuck about her, Zabini?"

Blaise laughed hollowly. "You're bluffing, Malfoy," of this, Blaise was certain, "lower your wand! Goyle and Nott have got her ... you make one false move and they'll hurt her, or worse... If you hex me, they'll disappear in an instant! Lower your wand, Draco - don't make this harder than it has to be!"

Draco's face was pale and furious. "Fuck you, Zabini!"

"Just lower your wand, Draco..."

Silence. Eyes bulging, Emily glanced over to where they stood in deadlock, and saw him lower his wand the merest inch. Struggling even more, her teeth suddenly found contact with her assailant's meaty hand, and she bit down hard. He wouldn't do it, he mustn't do it; she opened her mouth to scream. "No, Draco, don't do it!" she screeched, her voice suddenly filling the night. "Don't be bloody stupid, don't do it - don't..."

He hesitated. A clenched fist whistled through the night, connecting with her fragile jaw; febrile pain flooded through her veins, her world became an indistinct blur, she slowly sank into the bleakest nadir of unconsciousness. Yet as she sunk into dreamless depths, one memory claimed her; she remembered that he had hesitated.